Magnetic separator



Nov. 27, 1956 J. F. NOEL MAGNETIC SEPARATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov 27, 1953 FIG.2.

INVENTOR JACQUES F. NOEL ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. F. NOEL MAGNETIC SEPARATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 27, 1953 INVENTOR JACQUES F. NOEL ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. F. NOEL MAGNETIC SEPARATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov 2'7, 1953 & rm 7 F INVENTOR JACQUES F. NOEL ATTORNEY MAGNETIC EPARATOR Jacques F. Noel, Fontaineblean, France, assignor to So cit Jaruza A. G. Chur, Zurich, Switzerland, a SWISS company Application November 27', 1953, Serial N0. 394,836

Claims priority, application France November 27, 1952 8 Claims. c1. 210 -1.5)

This invention relates to apparatus for separating solids from a liquid suspension and has more particular reference to apparatus for efiecting magnetically the separation of solid magnetic particles suspended in a liquid.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus for effecting magnetically the sep} aration of solid magnetic particles suspended in a liquid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus, as characterized above, wherein a continuous flow of the product to be treated is directed across a sector of a separating surface of a rigid, rotatable dish or tray-like separating member positioned in the magnetic field produced by magnetic means held stationary relative to the separating member, whereby the magnetic particles in the product will be an tracted to and held on the separating surface by mag} netic force and, as the separating member is rotated, will be laterally separated from the liquid and moved to a zone where the collected magnetic particles are removed from the separating surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus, as characterized above, wherein means are provided for draining and/or rinsing the magnetic particles while they are magnetically held on said rotatable member and after they have been separated from the flow of the product being treated and before they are removed from the rotatable member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus, as characterized above, including a'plurality of vertically spaced rigid dish or tray-like separat ing members rotatable about a common axis, with each of said members having magnetic field producing means mounted on one side and positioned to create a mag netic field covering a wide sector thereof; means for producing'a flow of the product being treated across the sector of the separating surface of each of said mem-' bers in said magnetic field so that magnetic particles will be held on said surfaces as the product flows thereacross; and means associated with each of said surfaces and circumferentially spaced from the magnetic field thereof for removing the magnetically collected particles therefrom. 7

Another object of the present invention is to'provide novel apparatus, as characterized above, whereinmeans are provided to cause the product to be treatedto flow across the uppermost of the plurality of dish-or tray-like members rotatable about a common axis, then, in suc-' cession, across the remainder of said dish or tray-like members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus, as characterized above, which is simple in construction, efiicient in operation; and extremely flexible in its adaptations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification when considered in connection with'the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- IC Patented Nov. 27, 1955 Fig. l is a vertical sectional view showing diagrammatically, one embodiment of apparatus construction in accordance with the present invention, in which the separating member is in the form of an open-ended hollow inverted truncated cone;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. l, but showing a modified form of scraper;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. l, of a modified form of apparatus in which the separating member rotates about an inclined axis;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, of a modified form of apparatus in which the magnets are positioned above the separating member and the product to be treated flows beneath the separating member in a direction toward the axis of rotation;

,Fig. 6 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but showing'the product to be treated flowing away from the axis of rotation;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing diagrammatically, another embodiment of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, in which a plurality of separating members, as shown in Fig. l, are mounted for rotation about a common axis, with the product being treated flowing in succession across the successive members;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation'al view, with parts broken away, showing diagrammatically, another embodiment of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention in which a plurality of separating" members in the form of hollow cones are mounted for rotation about a common axis; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 7, of a modified form in which some of the separating members are in the form of hollow conesas well as in the form of open-ended, inverted, hollow truncated cones.

The present invention provides novel apparatus for magnetically efiecting the separation of solid magnetic particles suspended in a liquid and, in general, comprises a rigiddish or tray-like separating member of a predetermined shape rotatable about an axis of predetermined position and having a separating surface on which the separation of the magnetic particles is effected; magnetic means mounted adjacent one side of the separating surface and positioned to produce a magnetic field covering a wide sector area thereof; means for providing a flow or trickling of the product being treated across the sector of said separating surface in said magnetic field so that the magnetic particles in the product will be attracted to and held on the separating surface as the product flows thereover; and means circumferentially spaced from the magnetic field for removing the magnetically collected particles from the separating surface; the construction and arrangement being such that, as the product beingtreated flows across the area of the separating surface in the magnetic field, the magnetic particles in the product will be magnetically held on the separating surface and will be laterally separated from the fi ow of the liquid as the separating surface is rotated and will be moved out of the influence of the magnetic field into position wheretheir removal from the separating surface is effected. The invention further contemplates the use of a plurality of separating'members having such separating surfaces rotatable about a common axis, each separating'surface being provided with its magnetic means for producing the required magnetic field and means for removingthe collected magnetic particles therefrom. The present invention further contemplates the provision on such rota table members of means for draining'and/or rinsing the'magnetic particles while they'are magnetically'held on the separating'surfaces.

Referring now to the drawings, there is diagrammatically shown, in Figs. 1 and 2, one embodiment of apparatus for magnetically effecting the separation of solid magnetic particles suspended in a liquid constructed in accordance with the present invention. As'thereshown,

the apparatus comprises a rigid annular dish or tray- 7 member; a plurality of scrapers 1 6 (two'such being shown) mounted to slidingly engage the upperfsur'face of the member 10; and a chute 17 for the evacuation of the magnetic particles from the member 10. f

In the particular embodimentof the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the dish or tray-like separating member is shownas having the shape of an open-ended inverted truncated hollow cone and its lower end is fixedly attached to the shaft 11 for rotation therewith by any suitable means, such as the spider 12. The separating member 10 may be made of any suitable nonmagnetic material, such as brass or'stainless steel.

The stationary magnets 13 may be of any suitable type, in the particular embodiment of the'invention illustrated they are shown as electro-magnets and are suitably mounted beneath the member 10 in a position to produce a magnetic field covering a wide sector area of the upper or separating surface of the member 10, as indicated by the sector area between the lines aa and bb, as shown in Fig. 2.

The launder or chute 14 is fixedly mounted relative to the rotatable separating member 10 and positioned to feed a flow of the product being treated across the upper or separating surface of the member above the magnets 13. The width of the chute 14 and its positioning may be such that the width of the flow of the product being treated across the upper surface of the member 10 may be equal to the width of the sector area under the influence of the magnetic field produced by the magnets 13, or, as shown in'Fig. 2, may be less than the width of the sector area under the influence of the magnets, so that the sector area between the lines aa and cc will provide a rinse area in which the magnetic particles are still magnetically held to the surface of the member and any excess liquid allowed to drain off, before the particles are removed by the scrapers 16 or by gravity.

The discharge launder or chute 15 is fixedly mounted relative to the rotatable separating member 10, adjacent its inner periphery, and positioned to receive the flow of the product being treated after it has crossed the member 10 and discharge it from the apparatus.

Any suitable means may be provided for removing the collected magnetic particles from the member 10 as it rotates. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, such means are shown as comprising one or more scrapers 16, preferably, and as shown, in the form of elongated curved members fixedly mounted relative to the rotatable tray 10 and positioned to extend in a generally radial direction across the upper surface thereof in sliding engagement therewith. The

scrapers 16 are located at a point spaced circumferen tially from the field of the magnets13 to facilitate the removal of the collected magnetic particles. The launder or chute 17 is fixedly mounted relative to the rotatable separating member 10, adjacent its inner periphery, and positioned to receive the collected magnetic particles after they have been removed from the separating surface of the member 10 by the scrapers 16.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device is apparent. The product being treated is fed onto the rotating separating member 10 bythe chute 14 and flows across the sector area of the upper or separating surface of the member which is positioned over the magnets 13 and is removed from the device through the chute 15. As the liquid flows across the upper surface of the member the magnetic particles therein will be attracted to the surface of the member and held thereon by the magnetic force of the magnets 13. As the separating member 10 is rotated, the magnetic particles will be separated laterally from the. liquid and move with the member 10, first into the drain zone between the lines aa and c-c, Fig. 2, where any remaining liquid will be drained off by the force of gravity and flow through the central opening in the member 10; then into the zone where they come into contact with the scrapers 16 and are removed thereby, falling into the chute 17, through which they are evacuated from the apparatus.

Any suitable means may be provided to rotate the shaft 11, as for example, a shaft 18 connected to any suitable type of motor and/or reduction gearing, not shown, and connected to rotate the shaft 11 through suitable gears 19 secured to the respective shafts.

The modification of the device illustrated in Fig. 3 is identical in construction to that shown in Figs. 1 and '2, with the exception of the means for removing the collected magnetic particles from the separating member 10. As there shown, a cylinder 20 having inclined ribs 21, in the form of helical windings on its surface, is rotatably mounted and positioned to extend in a radial direction across the upper surface of the member 10 with the ribs 21 engaging the upper surface, so that, as the cylinder 20 rotates in one direction, the ribs 21 will scrape the collected magnetic particles from the surface of themember and force them down into the evacuation chute 17. When the cylinder 20 is rotated in the opposite direction, the collected particles will be forced up the surface of the member for evacuation therefrom through a chute 22 fixedly'mounted with respect to the separating member 10 and positioned below the outer end of the cylinder 20 adjacent the outer periphery of across the member 10 in a direction from the centeroutward to the evacuation launder or chute 15 which is positioned below the lowermost outer portion of the member 10, adjacent the outer periphery thereof.

Another generally similar modification is shown in Fig. 5. As there shown, the magnets 13' are positioned above the separating member 10', the scrapers 16 are positioned below the member 10', and the chute 17' for'evacuating the collected magnetic particles is positioned below the scrapers and extends from the center of the member 10 to its outer periphery. A stationary trough 23 extends close under a large portion of the separating member 102 The trough 23 is wide and shallow, is stationary relative to the rotatable separating member 10', and extends from a point beyond the outer periphery of the member to the inner periphery thereof' A feed launder or chute 14" delivers the product to be treated'into the outer end 7 of the trough 23 and, as the product flows along the trough the magnetic particles therein are attracted by the magnetic field of the magnets 13' and held against the under or separating surface of the member 10. After passing through "the trough 23, the liquid is discharged from'theapparatus through chute 15". The separating member 10' may be provided with an upturned flange around its outer peripheral edge to prevent any of the liquid from unintentionally being splashed thereon.

The modification shownin Fig. v6 is generally similar to that shown in Fig. except that the tray-like separating member has an upturned flange around its inner peripheral edge and its shaft ii is positioned for rotation about an axis inclined from the vertical; the trough 23 extends from a point spaced inwardly from the flanged inner periphery of the member 10", the feed' chute 14 is positioned to discharge the product being treated into the inner end of the trough 23' so that it may flow outwardly therethrough to be evacuated through evacuation chute positioned adjacent the outer periphery of the member 10".

The-modifications shown in Figs. 5 and 6 have the advantage of facilitating the separation of the magnetic particles from the non-magnetic ones which tend to sink under the effect of gravity and are finally discharged with the liquid. While the shafts of these modifications have been shown as inclined from the vertical, obviously, if

desired, the modification shown in Fig. 5, could be oper-.

ated in a vertical position.

Asheretofore stated, the present invention also contemplates apparatus comprising a shaft carrying a plurality of tray-like separating members vertically spaced from each other, each separating member having associated therewith magnets, scraping devices, and means for delivering and removing the product to-be treated therefrom and also means for removing the collected magnetic particles.

Three forms of such apparatus are diagrammatically shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of rigid annular tray-like separating members 24 are fixedly mounted in vertically spaced relation on a rotatable shaft 25, as by means of spiders 26. Each of the separating members 24 is generally similar to the separating memb'er 13 shown in Fig. l, and each has associated therewith a plurality of stationary electro-magnets 27 and scrapers 23 positioned and arranged as are these elements in connection with the separating member 1%) in the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In this modification, the product being treated is delivered to the upper or separating surface of the uppermost separating member 24 by a delivery launder or chute 29, it flows across the uppermost member 24 and into an evacuation chute 3%) which has its inlet opening below the member 24 and adjacent to its inner periphery. The chute 36 then delivers the product being treated to the upper or separating surface of the middle separating member 24 at a point adjacent its outer periphery, it flows across the middle separating member and into an evacuation chute 31 which has its inlet opening positioned below and adjacent the inner periphery of the member. The fluid, now free of magnetic particles, is evacuated from the apparatus through chute 31. The flows of the product being treated on the upper and intermediate separating members are across the portions thereof above the magnets associated therewith, so that the magnetic particles in the liquid may be laterally separated therefrom as the separating members are rotated.

The collected magnetic particles on the top and intermediate separating members are removed therefrom by the scrapers 2'3 and are evacuated through chutes 32 and and 33, respectively, into a chute 34 which deposits them on the bottom tray-like member 24 at a point adjacent its outer periphery. The magnetic particles fall onto the bottom member and are held thereon by the magnetic force of the magnets 27 until they have been moved into a position out of the magnetic field where they are removed by the scrapers 23 and are evacuated through chute 35.

The magnetic particles are rinsed while they are held on the bottom tray-like member 24, as by means of a perforated pipe 36 which extends over the member at a point adjacent the delivery end of the chute 34'and spaced therefrom in the direction of rotation of the member. The'rinse water flows across the'member and is'evacuated through drain chute 37 positioned below'and adjacent the inner periphery of the member.

In this particular embodiment of the apparatus, the product being treated is re-treated one or'several times in order to separate all magnetic particles; moreover,-the collected magnetic particles are finally rinsed, thus, a liquid free from all magnetic particles and magnetic particles free from impurities are obtained.

A second modification embodying a plurality of separating members mounted on a common shaft in vertically spaced relation is illustrated in Fig. 8. As there shown, a plurality of hollow conically shaped tray-like separating members 38, two such being shown, are fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft 39. Each of the separating members 38 has associated therewith a plurality of stationary magnets 46, mounted beneath the bottom surface of the member and positioned to produce a magnetic field covering a wide sector area thereof; a launder or chute 41 for delivering the product to be treated to the upper or separating surface of the separating. member at a point near the apex; a drain chute 42 for removing the product being treated from the apparatus after its flow across the separating member; a launder or chute 43 for delivering a flow of rinse water to the upper surface of the separating member at a point adjacent its apex and cir-' cumferentially spaced in the direction of rotation from the point at which the product being treated is delivered thereto; a drain chute 44 for removing the rinse water from the apparatus; a scraper 45 for removing the collected magnetic particles from the separating member after they have been rinsed, and an evacuation chute 46 for removing the collected magnetic particles from the apparatus.

The chutes 41 and 42 for delivering the product to be treated to the separating members and removing the product therefrom are fixedly mounted relative to the rotation of the member and so positioned that the flow of the product to be treated across the upper or separating surfaces of the members will be across the sectors thereof in the magnetic field of the magnets 49. The chutes 43 and 44 for delivering the rinse water to' the separating members and removing it therefrom are fixedly mounted relative to the rotation of the members and are so positioned that the fiow of rinse water across the upper surfaces will be across the sectors thereof in the magnetic field of the magnets .8, but circumferentially spaced in the direction of rotation from the flow of the' product being treated across the separating members. The scrapers 45 may be in the form of strips fixedly mounted relative to the rotation of the separating members and each is positioned to extend in a generally radial direction across the upper surfaces of the members in sliding engagement therewith. The scrapers are located at points circumferentially spaced in the direction of rotation from the magnetic field produced by the magnets 40.

The operation of the device is believed apparent. As the product being treated flows across the upper or separating surface of the separating members the magnetic particles therein will be attracted to the separating surface of the member and held thereon by the magnetic force of the magnets 49. As the separating members are rotated, the magnetic particles will be separated laterally from the liquid and move with the members, first into the rinse Zone, where all impurities will be rinsed therefrom, and then into the zone where they come into contact with the scrapers 45 and are removed thereby falling into the evacuation chutes 46.

With this modified form of apparatus, the separation of the magnetic products, their subsequent rinsing and final collection are carried out on the same separating members. It is also possible with this device to effect the re-treatment of the product being treated on the second separating member in a manner similar to that described in connection with the modification illustrated inFig. 7.

A third modification embodying a plurality of rigid tray-like separating members mounted on a common shaft in vertically spaced relation is illustrated in Fig. 9. As there shown, a plurality 'of hollow, generally conically shaped tray-like separating members 47, 48 and 49 are fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft 50. The top and bottom members 47 and 49 are shown as being inverted frusto-conically shaped and are fixedly secured to the shaft 50, as by means of spiders-51. Each of the separating members 47 and 49 are generally similar in construction with the separating member 24 shown in the modification illustrated in Fig. 7 and each has associated therewith, positioned and arranged in a similar manner, magnetic means 52 and scraper means 53. The middle separating member 48 is similar in construction to the separating member 38 shown in Fig. 8, and in a similar manner, has associated therewith magnetic means 54 and scraping means 55.

The operation of the apparatus is apparent. The product to be treated is delivered to the top separating member'by a feed chute 56, flows across the upper or separating surface of the member above the magnets 52, out through the central opening in the memebr down onto the middle separating member, then downwardly across the upper or separating surface of the middle member above the magnets 54 and over the outer peripheral edge 'of the member down onto the bottom separating member 49 and then across the upper or separating surface of the bottom member above the magnets 52 and out the central opening of the bottom member and is evacuated from the apparatus through a chute 57. The collected magnetic particles on each of the separating surfaces are removed by the scraper associated therewith and are evacuated from the apparatus through evacuation chutes 58 associated with the separating members.

From the foregoing it readily will be apparent'that there has been provided novel and improved apparatus for effecting magnetically the separation of solid magnetic particles suspended in a liquid which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and extremely flexible in its adaptations.

The apparatus may be used to separate magnetic particles of any kind suspended in a liquid and, more particularly, to remove the magnetite used in pseudo-solutions for washing coal in heavy liquid. The apparatus may also be used to clean magnetite ore suspended in a liquid, or any other substance which, suspended in a liquid, responds to magnetic attraction.

The apparatus of the present invention may further be used for separating magnetic particles from powdery or grainy mixtures of magnetic and non-magnetic particles.

- The only requisite, in such applications, is that the traylike separating members have a separating surface with a slope designed for allowing the product to flow or trickle thereacross.

While the tray-like separating members of the various modifications of the apparatus have been shown as being generally conical or frusto-conical in shape, obviously, they could have side Walls formed by curved generatrixes forming any angle with the axis of rotation,, or, in some instances, these tray-like separating members may be plane discs, particularly when mounted on shafts for rotation about an inclined axis.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for magnetically separating and recovering magnetic particles from a liquid containing magnetic particles comprising a rigid tray-like separating member having a separating surface inclined to the horizontal and inthe form of a surface of revolution generated by the rotation of a line about an axis of revolution; stationary magnetic means mounted on one side of said separating surface and positioned so that the magnetic field will cover a wide sector area of said separating surface; means including a stationary launder positioned to direct a continuous trickling of the liquid being treated in a downward direction generally radial to the axis of rotation of said surface and engaging a portion of the sector of the separating surface covered by said magnetic field 'on the side of the separating surface opposite said magnetic means, the remaining portion of said sector forminga draining zone; scraping means engaging a sector of said surface circumferentially spaced on the direction of rotation from said magnetic field for removing the collected magnetic particles therefrom; and means for rotating said surface about an axis extending upwardly from the horizontal whereby the magnetic particles attracted to the separating surface will be laterally separated from the trickling liquid thereon, moved through said draining zone and finally removed from the separating surface by the scraping means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separating surface is in the form of an inverted, hollow, openended truncated cone and is rotatable about a generally vertical axis; and wherein said magnetic means are positioned below said separating surface and the flow of the fluid being treated is over the top of said surface toward the axis of rotation.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for removing the collected magnetic particles comprise at least one curved member extending generally radially of said surface and positioned to slidably engage the surface to remove the magnetic particles therefrom.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for removing the collected particles comprises a rotatable cylindrical member having at least one helical rib thereon, said cylindrical member extending radially of said separating surface with said ribs in engagement therewith.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface is in the form of an inverted, hollow, open-ended truncated cone and is rotatable about an axis inclined from the vertical; and wherein said magnetic means are positioned below said separating surface at the lowermost portion thereof, and the'fiow of fluid being treated is across the top of said separating surface from the axis of rotation toward its outer periphery.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface is in the form of an inverted, hollow, open-ended truncated cone and is rotatable about a generally vertical axis and wherein said magnetic means are positioned above said surface and the flow of the fluid being treated is beneath said separating surface.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separating surface is in the form of an inverted, hollow, open: ended truncated cone and is rotatable about an axis inclined from the vertical; and wherein said magnetic means are positioned above said separating surface and the flow of the fluid being treated is beneath said separating sur face from the axis of rotation toward its outer periphery.

8. Apparatus for magnetically separating and recovering magnetic particles from a liquid containing such particles comprising a rotatable shaft extending upwardly at an angle to the horizontal; at least one rigid separating member in the form of a hollow truncated cone fixedly mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and having one of its surfaces forming a separating surface; stationary magnetic means mounted on one side of said separating surface and positioned so that its magnetic field will cover a wide sector area of said surface;means associated with said separating surface for directing a con tinuous flow of the product being treated so that the flow will cross in a radial direction and engage a portion of the sector of the separating surface covered by the magnetic field on the side of the separating surface opposite References Cited in the file of this patent 221 522??? gi gl s; d n in g z f1 s c 1 pi g e afi UNHED STAIES PATENTS assocaited with said separating surface and circumferenggi g g et a1 Iuly 1895 tially spaced from said magnetic means for recovering 5 2 at er 1910 the collected magnetic particles therefrom; and means g Wuensch "Sept 19,1950 for rotating said shaft whereby the magnetic particles 3 5 3 g fg 2? 12 attracted to the separating surface W111 be laterally sepa- 2,583,522 Winslow et all 1952 rated from the flow of the product being treated, moved through the draining zone and finally removed from the 0 separating surface by the scraping means. 

